29 hours until the draft! Anyone think Bowman hasn't done a thing or even gotten out of bed today?
- SUDA88

I don't really care if Stan is making any deals in bed or not!

Well if Toews and Kane will make around 20-24 million in a year after next season we know that Kesler won´t be playing in Chicago. And Teräväinen with ~0,9 caphit is looking much better option for now and in the near future. What will be Brandon Saad´s next caphit? Better sign him now too to Leddy type of bridge deal if he continues to play like this years playoffs next season also. Sharp will be gone, sooner or later. Spezza could work for a year..maybe Senators could retain some of his salary or something?

Amateur scouting, drafting and player development are keys to success in cap era.
- MjulQvist

Very true! But smart trades and Free Agent signings are important too.

29 hours until the draft! Anyone think Bowman hasn't done a thing or even gotten out of bed today?
- SUDA88

Maybe he is finishing up the details and talking to the other players being moved in the Kesler for Saad Blockbuster ??

2015-2016 if they get 12 million each with the players signed we have already we would have 8.9 million to fill 11 roster spots, need some damn good and cheap youth to do that and win.
- SaskHawkFan

I'm aware. What I am saying is that Kane and Toews are going to get paid more than they do now. That's a fact. By how much, we shall see. Nobody knows final numbers yet. Any argument people make that somehow we have no hope to do well because we re-sign two OUTSTANDING hockey players is false. I will argue that if we don't sign them, then good luck finding anyone to replace them. Yes, the cap is tight in 15-16 if they get 12mil each but that is also without moving people, which happens every season. The reason SB wanted this deal done by July 1 is to be able to plan long term around them being here. There is no point wishing upon a star that they will be talked into not setting the bar for this next generation of contracts. These are the biggest superstars right now that need to be resigned. Others will follow suit when their time comes.

29 hours until the draft! Anyone think Bowman hasn't done a thing or even gotten out of bed today?
- SUDA88

Stan got out of bed...but he went back for nap time.

And last time I checked, Corey Perry still played a more important position, scores more goals, and plays more of a two way game……

I understand I'm in the minority. And I know the alternative is a slippery slope with Kane's ego and you might not want to go there….but jee bus, 11 mil for a person who, on paper, is a glorified Tony Amonte? Kane was 23rd in goals last year, and we want him to be paid in the top 5…? I'm more than happy to give him a significant raise. But this "Whatever he wants"…..Why even get a cap conscious GM…….
- yahoodi

I agree with you and I love Kane. Stan can't just let the twins agent dictate the terms. Stan has to stand his ground and use facts so they can come to a fair offer. If Kane and Toews get 12/year, they will (frank) the whole team over. See Pitts.

Have looked more into the 2015-2016 season when the Wonder Twins extensions kick in along with some other guys needing new paper. Even if the Hawks land Kesler, I don't know how guys like Sharp, Versteeg and Bickell stay. I think realistically the Hawks have to trade either Bickell or Sharp and Versteeg this offseason to start preparing for next. Also IMO, Sharp is the only real loss out of those 3. The cap is going to be REAL tight for the next two years for this team. Expect to see quite a few of the Hogs coming up.

I agree with you and I love Kane. Stan can't just let the twins agent dictate the terms. Stan has to stand his ground and use facts so they can come to a fair offer. If Kane and Toews get 12/year, they will (frank) the whole team over. See Pitts.
- Lido_Shuffle

They won't get that but more likely $10 mil a season.

I agree with you and I love Kane. Stan can't just let the twins agent dictate the terms. Stan has to stand his ground and use facts so they can come to a fair offer. If Kane and Toews get 12/year, they will (frank) the whole team over. See Pitts.
- Lido_Shuffle

Pittsburgh puts a good team on the ice every year. They have a very good team that is a threat in the playoffs every year. A headcase for a goalie has been the biggest problem for them. Talent is not the problem.

The longer it goes with no trades the less likely it will happen. Stan has had plenty of time to work this through. The closer we are to the draft the pressure to make a decision comes in to play. Just don't see Stan doing it. JJ mentioned it. Stan simply does not have the guts to send a core guy on a trade. Hope I'm wrong but Stan is consistent. Not a risk taker. As long as the Hawks stay competitive he's ok. This is a great team. Couple of roster upgrades and this team could be historic with another Cup or two.

Stan got out of bed...but he went back for nap time.


- DarthKane

Hahahahahahaha

I think its really simple....

2 of the top ten players in the NHL...a rising salary cap....one could argue their last contracts were friendly.

Lock them up long term and pay the top ten money...or another team will.

These are the two players this franchise built around. Pay them and move on!

Stan got out of bed...but he went back for nap time.


- DarthKane

You really should put Jim Benning's face on that and caption it with ..... BOHICA (Bend Over Here It Comes Again)

2015-2016 if they get 12 million each with the players signed we have already we would have 8.9 million to fill 11 roster spots, need some damn good and cheap youth to do that and win.
- SaskHawkFan

Clearly the answer it to just get rid of Kane and Toews, right? Prove a point to those greedy bastards, right? It's a shame our previous owner isn't still around, I'm sure he would have handled things to your liking.

You really should put Jim Benning's face on that and caption it with ..... BOHICA (Bend Over Here It Comes Again)
- paulr

Thisnisnhahahahah too !

Clearly the answer it to just get rid of Kane and Toews, right? Prove a point to those greedy bastards, right? It's a shame our previous owner isn't still around, I'm sure he would have handled things to your liking.
- BreakoutHockey

Stan got out of bed...but he went back for nap time.


- DarthKane

Sad thing is that is prolly a true picture of Stan.

I agree with you and I love Kane. Stan can't just let the twins agent dictate the terms. Stan has to stand his ground and use facts so they can come to a fair offer. If Kane and Toews get 12/year, they will (frank) the whole team over. See Pitts.
- Lido_Shuffle

Stand his ground? What "ground" does Bowman have? Kane and Toews are ridiculous skilled, accomplished, and popular players in their mid-20's and they are about 370 days from becoming UFAs. There is only one side in this negotiation with any leverage, and it's certainly not the bean counter.

Clearly the answer it to just get rid of Kane and Toews, right? Prove a point to those greedy bastards, right? It's a shame our previous owner isn't still around, I'm sure he would have handled things to your liking.
- BreakoutHockey

were did i say lets get rid of them? i posted the numbers and they don't lie. how can you be a cup contender when you have 8.9 million in cap space to fill 11 roster spots?

I think its really simple....

2 of the top ten players in the NHL...a rising salary cap....one could argue their last contracts were friendly.

Lock them up long term and pay the top ten money...or another team will.

These are the two players this franchise built around. Pay them and move on!
- frafra

Have looked more into the 2015-2016 season when the Wonder Twins extensions kick in along with some other guys needing new paper. Even if the Hawks land Kesler, I don't know how guys like Sharp, Versteeg and Bickell stay. I think realistically the Hawks have to trade either Bickell or Sharp and Versteeg this offseason to start preparing for next. Also IMO, Sharp is the only real loss out of those 3. The cap is going to be REAL tight for the next two years for this team. Expect to see quite a few of the Hogs coming up.
- dan9189

I could only see Bickell being moved if a guy like McNeill steps in order the trade involves a player of equal enormity and budding two way game comes back. Sharp and Versteeg are really the two players that the Hawks have in surplus, both of which have injury histories and one of which is approaching the sunset of his career.

I'd be ecstatic if they Toews and Kane both sign 8 years for $80M.

were did i say lets get rid of them? i posted the numbers and they don't lie. how can you be a cup contender when you have 8.9 million in cap space to fill 11 roster spots?
- SaskHawkFan

Your choices are a) sign them to a mutually-negotiated deal, in which the players (rightfully) have all the leverage as impending UFAs in the prime of their careers (likely in the $10mil-$11mil range) or b) don't sign them.

You can't just sign them for $8.9mil because it looks better on CapGeek.

Very true! But smart trades and Free Agent signings are important too.
- paulr

All those things are important because success in the cap era is essentially about asset management and getting the most possible out of every dollar.

I'd be ecstatic if they Toews and Kane both sign 8 years for $80M.
- Dannyboy

Agreed. Within two years, those two at $10mil/yr will be significantly below market value for comparables who are hitting UFA status at that time. Not even debatable.